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AUBURN HILLS, Mich.–The Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic cut down the trash talk and just played, combining for a riveting playoff game.

Too bad a disputed play is what will be most remembered.

Chauncey Billups made the three-pointer in question at the end of the third quarter and Detroit went on to beat Orlando 100-93 last night, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round series.

"It's tough to be on the other end of that play," said Billups, who scored 28 points. "But I'll take it.''

Billups officially made the shot with 0.5 seconds left in the third after the clock froze at 4.8 seconds.

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The possession started with 5.1 seconds as Billups dribbled in the backcourt and it appeared to take 5.2 seconds using replays the officials weren't allowed to use during a delay lasting several minutes.

The shot put Detroit ahead 78-76.

Lead official Steve Javie declined to be interviewed by a pool reporter, and ignored another reporter at the scorer's table shouting to speak with him after the game ended.

"They had to estimate how much time (was left) and they estimated 4.6 seconds," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``That's almost funny. ... What can you do? They were put in a very tough situation on that call.''

Even though TNT had the ability later in the game to show a real-time replay with a clock superimposed on the screen, the league's replay rules don't allow for reviewing a play to determine when the clock started.

"Steve Javie told me that with the technology they have, they should be able to go over and look at that," Van Gundy said. ``They did not have that available. He was frustrated by that – probably not quite as much as us.''

The Magic still had a chance to win after trailing by 14 in the first half.

Orlando had the ball down by two points late in the game, but Rashard Lewis missed a running scoop shot with 14 seconds left, Dwight Howard just missed on a putback and Hedo Turkoglu couldn't grab the offensive rebound.

Magic reserve Keyon Dooling fouled Richard Hamilton before the ensuing pass was made from the sideline, giving Detroit a free throw – made by Hamilton – and the ball. Billups then made two free throws to put Detroit ahead by five points with 10.9 seconds left.

Game 3 in the best-of-seven series is tomorrow night in Orlando.

The Magic refused to blame the officials – or an unfortunate rule – for the loss.

"We hung in there good, but we didn't make plays down the stretch and the 19 turnovers killed us,'' Van Gundy said.

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